Apple Offers Expedited Apple Watch Order Lottery To Developers 74
An anonymous reader writes: Apple is sending out invites to random registered developers, giving them the chance to buy an Apple Watch with guaranteed delivery by the end of the month. "Special Opportunity for an Expedited Apple Watch Order," the invite email states. "We want to help give Apple developers the opportunity to test their WatchKit apps on Apple Watch as soon as it is available. You have the chance to purchase one (1) Apple Watch Sport with 42mm Silver Aluminum Case and Blue Sport Band that's guaranteed to ship by April 28, 2015."
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The expression 'MacJob' used to mean a crap job; so this MacWatch....
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The expression 'MacJob' used to mean a crap job; so this MacWatch....
Never heard that expression. Ever.
Oh, I see now; that refers to a low-paying EMPLOYMENT, as in a job a McDonald's. Hence "McJob" (prounounced "Mac-Job").
Nothing to do with Apple. Nice try, hater.
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Nothing to do with Apple. Nice try, hater.
Grow a sense of humour; or are you so insecure that anything that suggests that somebody hasn't prostrated themself in humble adulation is taken to mean that they are 'haters'? You wouldn't last long as part of an engineering team with that sort of sensitivities; we all get teased for aspects of what we do, in a friendly way - it's part of belonging. Perhaps it is way of saying "We know you understand because you are one of us".
If you want my opinion without any hint of humour, then it is like this: I think
A very good idea... (Score:1, Redundant)
If you want useful apps that work well, you WANT developers to be the first to get watches, so they can test applications to see how they behave in real life.
It's not going to be very many compared to the total sold, and all indications are the one they are selling is one of the less popular models...
You might say, well anyone could jump the queue then buy buying a developer program membership. But it's not that easy; as the headline mentions it's a bit of f "lottery" - I'm an iOS developer, and I did not
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well I would say that a large chunk of devs are on pre-orders...
they're the people interested in the watch anyways. your normal iphone users don't really give a shit.
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If you want useful apps that work well, you WANT developers to be the first to get watches
Apple just wants people to buy their watch, and "useful apps that work well" is way down an Apple fan's list of reasons to buy something by Apple, the main one being "ooh Apple gimmegimmegimme hipster shiny Starbucks."
Long term sales more important (Score:1)
Apple just wants people to buy their watch...
Which people will not continue to do unless there are apps that work well. Initial reviews are important to mid-to-long term success, and over a longer term to customer satisfaction that leads to purchase of further upgrades (or, for the more cynical, accessories where we all know the real money is).
Even ascribing the most cash-driven motives to Apple still yields a better payoff by getting developers watches early.
In fact you could easily ascribe the desire for
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Which would go against the business model Apple is In - selling content to move hardware. Apple WANTS developers to write apps for it. Lots of them. Because the more apps available, the better you can market it as a useful device so it trickles down to people who don't necessarily want it sudd
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"useful apps that work well" is way down an Apple fan's list of reasons to buy something by Apple
I bought a MacBook Pro because it gave me hipster cred, not because it runs all the Unix software I need for work better than Windows ever could or because it runs all the desktop software I like that's not available for Linux. I have a daily OmniFocus reminder to use Emacs to write a love letter to Tim Cook.
I certainly didn't buy an iPhone because it's a nice phone that integrates well with my Mac software, and I only bought an Apple Watch because the brain implanted kool aid told me to and not because I t
If you like that, I've got a fence to paint... (Score:1, Insightful)
Hmm, seems like Tim Cook (or his PR folks) have been reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:
If you ask reaaaaal nicely, they'll let you buy their product.
And yet the sheep keep baaaaarging in...
Double serving (Score:2)
Isn't buying the watch gambling enough?
In what way gambling? (Score:2, Insightful)
Isn't buying the watch gambling enough?
How is this gambling?
Apple is going to support the watch for a long time to come, as you can tell they are very attached to these things. It's gotten way more of a full media push than the AppleTV ever did, for example - and they still sell AppleTV's many years after launch.
Lots of people are buying the watch, and shipping times are quite far out now - so if you get one and find you do not like it, you can resell it pretty easily (not to mention you can just return it
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What gamble, it's a dead certainty, the victim of marketing award. Wouldn't be caught dead with one, how embarrassing ;D.
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Until the next one comes out. Next Monday, probably.
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Next monday? Are you frickin' nuts? I can't wait that long!
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You're thinking of Samsung. Apple's upgrade cycle is yearly.
A Question of Value (Score:1)
$20 to the charity of your choice says it won't receive software updates in 2018, despite known vulnerabilities.
What "vulnerabilities"? You don't run code on the watch. It doesn't browse the web.
Also an open question how upgrades will really work - like say if in two years you get a new replacement module for the core of the watch. Or you simply get a large discount on a newer model by trading in your current watch center, but you keep the bands... lots of ways to play it to make it all work out well for
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Why do you believe that?
Because I'm developing applications for the the Watch... are you?
Currently, you pre-load static screens and set values in them.
We may be able to run code in the future on the watch.
But even when we can run code you'll not really be able to do things like do network calls out from the watch - it would go through the code on the phone itself, so any possible vulnerability would be patched there, not the watch.
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How is this gamble? The watch will be garbage in 2-3 years from now.
No wifi, less space than a Nomad, lame? (Score:1)
Yeah. Must be the buyers who are braindead, not people like yourself (and CmdrTaco) who can't see what Apple actually does bring to the table.
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Well, I know basically nothing about the smartwatch market, but there is one obvious advantage of the Apple Watch: it works with the iPhone.
Android may have more overall market share, but Apple dominates the high-end market. People who buy high-end smartphones are more likely to buy accessories for those phones.
That doesn't make them "braindead", as the arrogant luddites on Slashdot may like to claim. It just means that a) they have enough money that a few hundred on a toy is no big deal or b) they love b
What they bring (Score:3, Informative)
if you really want to know:
1) Style (which is obviously a matter of opinion but lots of people like the style)
2) Build quality (better seams/materials)
3) Battery Life (Seems a lot better than all but the Pebble)
4) Tighter control of watch notifications (rather than funneling everything to the watch you choose which notifications can go through to the watch).
5) Glances, where are short lived application status screens you can see quickly.
6) Taptic feedback, which can be really nice over buzzing or sound and
Android Wear has maps, Pebble too... (Score:2)
Android wear supports maps [youtube.com] (although kind of limited).
Pebble time kind of does [idownloadblog.com], although the guide there to get turn by turn directions is pretty much a hack. There are links in that article to real maps apps but they just display maps I think.
Or did you just mean the built in apps I guess? I think Wear has at least some minimal map app included.
And what they dont.. (Score:5, Informative)
However in the real world...
1) I think the word you are looking for is 'fashion' as in people think having an iwatch ion their wrist will somehow make them cool. good luck with that.
2) I can only assume you have not actually looked at the competition on this one.
3) And again, you missed the fact that most of the Android watches last longer? Even Apple dont rate their watch for 24 whole hours.
4) You mean just like android?
5) Um, what? is that in some way an apple only feature? Oh, I see. because apple use THAT name for it it is somehow special. hmmm.
6) Yes, a nice and effective way to reduce battery life even further. Enjoy.
BTW I do like your rationalisation at the end where anything that doesnt quite work properly must not be needed, so you can just bin it ;)
Thank god that outside the Apple walled garden there is some choice - hell, you can even get WATCH shaped watches ;)
In the world of normal people (Score:4, Interesting)
1 I think the word you are looking for is 'fashion' as in people think having an iwatch ion their wrist will somehow make them cool.
Well actually that aspect is working just fine for a number of celebrities [gizmodo.com], so all I have to say is good luck arguing against the Apple Watch being part of popular fashion with Beyonce wearing one!
I personally think a lot of people will buy one because it is functional, and simply not ugly as is the case with many other smart watches. That is a concern for many people.
2. I can only assume you have not actually looked at the competition on this one.
You mean "felt" right? Please tell me you meant felt, because that was the whole point... yes I have. I have a good friend who loves her Samsung smartwatch. I've used a Motorola watch briefly, and also older Pebbles. The Motorola LOOKS nice (well, sort of, I find it too large) but just is not built as well. I've ordered a Pebble Time myself, so we'll see how that is.
3) And again, you missed the fact that most of the Android watches last longer?
Sorry, I thought we were talking about actual battery life, not pretend numbers that Android Wear makers like to produce.
4) You mean just like android?
How can you block a notification for Android Wear for an app that does not have a corresponding Wear app? Blocking of notifications seemed to require that. Not every app is going to have a Wear app (or Apple Watch app for that matter). You surely can't mean that applications that only run on your phone cannot have notifications appear on your watch, as that would render the watch essentially useless for notification management.
5) Um, what? is that in some way an apple only feature?
What are you thinking they are? Cards? That's not really the same thing. Those are really apps in Glance clothing. Way too many possibilities for expansion or stacking.
6) Yes, a nice and effective way to reduce battery life even further
Someone who obviously doesn't understand comparative power drain of tapping vs. even a short vibration... or how much more useful directional taps are than even vibration patterns.
BTW I do like your rationalisation at the end where anything that doesnt quite work properly must not be needed
??? what I said was that even IF an app is desired/needed I will cull it if it's too noisy on what needs to be a very minimal interface (also a primary design concern for Android Wear by the way).
I'm a developer, so I understand both systems. You appear just to be against Apple even when they have good ideas, and have not really looked in depth into how the Apple Watch varies from Android Wear, or Pebble.
Re:In the world of normal people (Score:4, Informative)
How can you block a notification for Android Wear for an app that does not have a corresponding Wear app? Blocking of notifications seemed to require that.
Nope, you can mute any app. There are two ways to do it. If you swipe left on the notification you get a screen (possibly after a couple of swipes; depends on the type of notification) that offers to mute app. Tap that. Alternatively, if you open the Android Wear app on your phone, go into settings and tap "Block app notifications", you can add apps to block.. and remove blocks, too.
I'm a developer, so I understand both systems.
Are you sure?
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Ok, I stand corrected on notification filtering - I guess I mis-read that section. It sure looked like it only applied to watch apps (at least the management from the phone side).
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Have you actually used an Android Wear device, rather than just reading the docs? If not, your comments about battery life also have to be called into question -- particularly since you have to be comparing against Apple's claims, which are almost certainly optimistic. Most everything else in your list is of subjective value. The two factual complaints are incorrect.
FWIW, I have used a Moto 360, and have an LG G Watch and an LG G Watch R. The G Watch R is what I'm currently wearing.
I should also point o
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I've only used Android Wear watches briefly, not for a full cycle - but it sure didn't sound like they were running for 18 hours+ (at least not the good ones).
I hear what you are saying about competition, which is why I bought a Pebble Time also... but I have to think that if other systems can't leverage the interest in smart watches that Apple has generated, that is more a problem on their end than Apple's . I think Pebble in particular has done a great job at pulling in sales in the face of a big Apple W
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Yeah. Must be the buyers who are braindead, not people like yourself (and CmdrTaco) who can't see what Apple actually does bring to the table.
So, they bring MMO-style gambling to the purchase of a watch?
REVOLUTIONARY!
Hundreds of years of watchmaking, and we've been waiting for THIS! ... ... ...
Oh PLEASE!
Turning insufficient supply of a crappy product into gambling opportunity for all of the sheeple.
What next? The Apple Pen? The Apple Shoe? The Apple Belt?
Oh! I know! The Apple WALL SOCKET!
Like a regular wall socket, but white, with an embossed, glow in the dark Apple logo!
Seriously, Apple could package fresh feces, say it came from Steve Jobs
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Yeah. Must be the buyers who are braindead, not people like yourself (and CmdrTaco) who can't see what Apple actually does bring to the table.
I fell for the hype and bought a first generation iPhone when Apple knocked $200 off the price [computerworld.com]. Because, what do you know, at the time they weren't actually selling like hotcakes.
Let's not forget, back then it didn't run apps, couldn't record video, had no stereo bluetooth, didn't do MMS and maxed out at EDGE speeds (when even dumbphones were beginning to ship with 3G). The battery life was lackluster, the reception and call quality was abysmal. Sure, mobile Safari was pretty awesome at the time compared
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Yeah. Must be the buyers who are braindead, not people like yourself (and CmdrTaco) who can't see what Apple actually does bring to the table.
No, people like himself (and CmdrTaco) can see that what Apple actually does bring to the table is mostly marketing.
Maybe Apple fans have plenty of money because (Score:2)
they're smart. And maybe you are consistently wrong (by your own admission) because you're stupid. That's the only explanation that fits all available evidence.
Laugh... (Score:1, Informative)
Because none are interested.
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AKA... (Score:5, Funny)
"Apple Watch Sport with 42mm Silver Aluminum Case and Blue Sport Band"
AKA "the one no body wants".
Very true (Score:2)
That is my guess as to why these emails were not sent out sooner. From pre-orders Apple knows now what are the less popular watch models so this one is probably the bottom of the list (most people from the sound of it like the dark bodies more than the silver). That makes it less likely someone would buy one to re-sell, or just to order to have a watch early instead of actually needing one to to testing with, and thus any developer sales will not really affect shipping dates for anyone who ordered this mo
They kind of did A (Score:1)
Apple did invite a number of developers to test Apple Watch apps at the Apple campus, I think back in January. I didm't get an invite for that, a friend of mine did. I don't think it's feasible for them to have got such new hardware into many developers hands earlier. I think possibly if you had asked Apple and had an app to test at that time they would have let you in (I didn't try as I wasn't ready to test then).
I'm sure if you got the email you'll be able to buy one, otherwise everyone would get the em
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I have no idea how they choose who to send these to, as I'm an iOS developer working on an Apple Watch compatible app and I didn't get one.
Probably by some function of the number of apps they have on the store and the number of sales of those apps.
That would cut out all the people who aren't actual developers, that nevertheless have developer accounts. And it would be a decent stab at prioritising those more likely to ship something that people want to buy.
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That is my guess as to why these emails were not sent out sooner. From pre-orders Apple knows now what are the less popular watch models so this one is probably the bottom of the list (most people from the sound of it like the dark bodies more than the silver). That makes it less likely someone would buy one to re-sell, or just to order to have a watch early instead of actually needing one to to testing with, and thus any developer sales will not really affect shipping dates for anyone who ordered this model since they probably already had enough of them made to ship out some extras.
I also think that as the emails get sent out, Apple waits a day or so to see if the person bites, then they send someone else an email... I have no idea how they choose who to send these to, as I'm an iOS developer working on an Apple Watch compatible app and I didn't get one.
I would have thought the blue band was one of the more popular band colors, but perhaps not. Or perhaps that's to make up for having to get the silver watch... :-)
Every single iOS developer at my company got one of these emails - except me. Apple asked us back in November to create an app for the Apple Watch, so maybe that has something to do with it. I'm also the only person who won the WWDC lottery at my company. So who knows?
Is that what that was? (Score:1)
I just sent it to my spam folder with the rest of the marketing BS I get on a daily basis. Since when does Apple hold lotteries? And since when does "lottery" mean "I pay full price for the product; I just get mine shipped first?" We used to just call that "expedited shipping," and retailers tacked on a small convenience fee for it.
It does not mean your watch ships earlier (Score:4)
It doesn't mean an Apple Watch you ordered ships earlier; it means Apple will let you buy ANOTHER watch, only the 42mm Silver blue band Sport, in order to have one shortly after launch day for testing your app (since only developers can purchase these and offers are tied to your specific developer ID).
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They already hold a lottery for WWDC, as it is far more popular than the number of people they can actually hold in the largest venue. And that too is a lottery to get the chance to purchase. So it's not a new thing.
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They already hold a lottery for WWDC, as it is far more popular than the number of people they can actually hold in the largest venue. And that too is a lottery to get the chance to purchase. So it's not a new thing.
They had to, after one developer conference was sold out within less than two minutes...
Copying Google (Score:1)
Congrats, you've won the opportunity to buy a Google Glass... I mean Apple Watch! We promise it's not an over-hyped still-born technology.
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Difference is Apple had sales of about a million watches in the first day, just in the USA alone. The only reason for this lottery at all is that general sale of is sold out till June at least.
By contrast Google Glass, over what, 18 months, perhaps sold a few hundred Google Glasses. I'd be very surprised if Apple didn't sell more $10,000 Edition Watches in the first day than Google ever sold Glasses.
Apple is Losing "it" (Score:1)
There once was a time when I looked forward to Apple's new products. Without being an iCult member, repeating all I heard from the fearless Apple leaders, I could appreciate the design and market leadership. I didn't always buy the stuff, but I once knew when I looked at new a Apple product I was seeing the future of consumer electronics.
Apple hasn't marketed a good new idea in three years. And it isn't even a new idea. Android tried and failed about a year ago. It turns out, people prefer lightweight w
They what now? (Score:1)
It turns out, people prefer lightweight watches, with faces they can read, that don't have to get recharged on a weekly basis.
That doesn't make any sense based on initial sales, and who is buying them.
What about the people who prefer NO WATCH (like myself) that are moving back to wearing watches just because of the added features smart watches offer?
It's way to early to say what people "prefer". I would say for a long time, that a large majority of people will be wearing "normal" watches, but that's simpl
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Your ideas are intriguing to me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
"Special Opportunity for an Expedited Apple Watch" (Score:1)
If I was a developer I would have dismissed the email as spam after reading that subject line...